Joshua Zirkzee is preparing to leave Manchester United within the next week, Confidential understands.
United are expected to strengthen their squad before Tuesday’s 11pm transfer deadline, particularly after their surprise opening-day loss to newly promoted Hull City. Even so, the club anticipate Zirkzee departing, with a loan move considered the most likely outcome.
Juventus have identified the Dutch forward as a target and are interested in bringing him back to Italy. Serie A rivals Napoli are also monitoring the situation, while Aston Villa have made enquiries. Zirkzee joined United from Bologna for £36.5million two years ago.
The 25-year-old made only five starts in all competitions last season and was left as an unused substitute during Saturday’s match at the MKM Stadium. Keen to secure regular first-team football, Zirkzee is understood to accept that a compromise between all parties may be needed to complete a transfer.
Zirkzee remains a popular figure within the Manchester United dressing room. However, his preferred position is No10, the role occupied by captain Bruno Fernandes, leaving him with limited opportunities for consistent playing time.
United would also need to consider how to replace Zirkzee, who has scored nine goals in 75 appearances for the club. Their current priority is a new left-back, with Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde and 19-year-old Racing Santander defender Jorge Salinas among the players attracting interest. However, club insiders are not convinced there will be further arrivals after the additions of midfield trio Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba, costing £155million in total, as well as free-agent goalkeeper Karl Darlow.
Joshua Zirkzee is expected to depart Manchester United within the next week
Zirkzee scored on his United debut against Fulham two years ago but has managed only eight more goals across his following 74 appearances
United announced the £70million arrival of Carlos Baleba from Brighton on Tuesday, although they are not currently close to securing any further signings before the transfer window closes next week
Double or Nothing!
Amazon’s All or Nothing documentary has doubled Manchester United’s broadcasting commitments this season.
Production started at United’s pre-season training camp in Dublin earlier this month before gathering pace last week. The crew behind the access-all-areas series are now a familiar presence at Carrington and Old Trafford, with the scale of the project becoming increasingly clear to staff at a club that already attracts more media attention than any other in the Premier League.
The Amazon series could generate more than £10million for United, but it will also place twice the usual demands on the club’s broadcasting operations. That presents a significant challenge in a campaign that could include up to 15 additional matches following the team’s return to European competition.
All United players are understood to have signed waivers permitting behind-the-scenes filming. Journalists who cover the club have done the same, allowing footage from Michael Carrick’s press conferences to be included in the documentary.
MUTV’s studio boost
Although Amazon is placing substantial demands on United’s time, Confidential understands that the new Snapdragon Studio at Carrington was installed primarily for MUTV, rather than for the streaming service.
The first-floor editing suite at United’s training ground will support the club’s in-house television operation as it produces more programming for the team’s own channels. The facility’s technology is supplied by Snapdragon under United’s £60million-a-year shirt sponsorship agreement with California-based technology company Qualcomm, a deal currently scheduled to continue until 2029.
Amazon will use its own production facilities for the much-anticipated Manchester United docuseries, which is scheduled to be broadcast in summer 2027.
Sleeve it out
With Snapdragon set to remain United’s shirt sponsor for at least three more years, and Betway having recently agreed a record-breaking deal for the club’s training kit, Manchester United are now seeking a new sponsor for their sleeve.
United’s £20million-a-year partnership with DXC Technology ran out in May after four seasons, and they kicked off the new campaign at Hull on Saturday without branding on their sleeve for the first time in eight years.
The club were prepared to be patient last season when they went without a training-kit sponsor after the deal with Tezos lapsed, before cashing in on their return to the Champions League this season by signing the multi-year agreement with Betway. The deal, also believed to be worth £20m-a-year, is said to be the biggest standalone training kit or playing shirt sleeve deal in world football.
Reds escape rail chaos
United avoided the rail chaos that affected many of their 2,400 fans at Hull on Saturday by travelling back from Humberside on the team bus – although some players returned under their own steam.
United stars trudge off the pitch at the MKM Stadium after the 2-0 defeat at Hull City last Saturday
The Reds routinely take the train to games in London, and usually fly further afield, but the 200-mile round trip between Manchester and Hull meant that Carrick and his squad went there and back by bus.
It was just as well after the matchday announcer at the MKM Stadium appeared to take great pleasure in informing the United fans that the trains scheduled to depart from Hull for Manchester at 3.30pm and 5.03pm had been cancelled – much to the delight of the Hull supporters.
The team bus got away on time, but not before Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw were spotted walking across the car park towards their own transport. Confidential understands that several other United players did the same because they had plans for their day off on Sunday.
OT is pitch perfect
United may have requested to kick off the new season away from home so they could complete a major upgrade of the pitch at Old Trafford, but Confidential understands that the stadium would comfortably have been ready to host a game last weekend.
The turf has been relaid for the first time in 14 years – complete with new foundations and drainage system – and United have also taken steps to protect the players from injury by safeguarding the perimeter of the pitch.
The club confirmed earlier this summer that ‘the grass is being extended to provide a consistent surface at pitchside, and a layer of protection is being added to the brickwork at the foot of Old Trafford’s famous slope’.
There had been concerns over the ditch and perimeter wall that were created when the pitch was elevated in the 1990s, with players at risk of injury if they came off the grass at speed and collided with the advertising hoardings. Most recently, Benjamin Sesko hurt his shin in the victory over Liverpool in May, with the Slovenian only returning to action at Hull on Saturday.
United have also upgraded the home and away dugouts to increase the number of seats for substitutes and coaching staff from 16 to 20, in keeping with UEFA criteria ahead of the club’s return to the Champions League.
Benjamin Sesko hurt his shin after colliding with an advertising hoarding in the victory over Liverpool in May, with the Slovenian only returning to action at Hull on Saturday
All the work was completed in advance of United’s trip to Humberside, meaning the club could have played at Old Trafford last weekend after all, although insiders say the extra week will give the new turf – which is made up of 96 per cent natural grass and four per cent artificial fibres – more time to mature before Sunday’s home opener against Ipswich Town.
United have made the improvements despite pressing ahead with plans to build a new stadium to replace Old Trafford, hopefully by 2035.
The club have also improved the stadium experience for fans as part of new partnership with Levy, the sports and entertainment hospitality specialists. It aims to provide a better quality, faster service for supporters which has seen new draught beer taps installed around Old Trafford. There will be more self-service bars which will enable fans to tap their payment card and grab a beer, which should reduce queues and improve flow.
There will also be a wider range of dining options outside the ground, including a number of kiosks featuring independent Manchester vendors selling street food.
JJ passes Under 21s audition
Confidential was in position at Leigh Sports Village on Monday night to witness JJ Gabriel’s stunning competitive debut for the Under 21s.
Gabriel, still only 15, scored a sublime goal when he chipped Ipswich Town goalkeeper Woody Williamson from outside the area, and also added two assists for Victor Musa and Jaydan Kamason.
Michael Carrick and his assistant Steve Holland were among the small crowd in Leigh, and it was hard not to marvel at Gabriel’s display as he thrived in a No10 role.
The Under-21s played in a 4-2-3-1 system to mirror the first team, even playing without a recognised No9, much like Carrick did at Hull by using Matheus Cunha through the middle. That allowed Gabriel to play the Bruno Fernandes role. The expectation is that Gabriel will train regularly with the first team throughout the season while also playing a starring role in the Under 21s.
JJ Gabriel, still only 15, scores a sublime chip from the edge of the area against Ipswich Town Under 21s
He scored 29 times across 32 appearances last season, helping his team reach the FA Youth Cup and Premier League Under 18s Cup finals
He was outstanding for the Under 18s under Darren Fletcher last season despite starting it as a 14-year-old. He scored 29 times across 32 appearances, helping his team reach the FA Youth Cup and Premier League Under 18s Cup finals.
Carrick and Holland were beaming by full time. With a star like Gabriel on their hands, who could blame them?
Scouts flock to see Under 21s
It was noticeable just how many EFL scouts were there on Monday night to watch an Under 21s team that is still ripe for picking before next week’s deadline.
Kamason and Harry Amass, who started at right-back and left-back in the 5-0 win, are both expected to draw interest. Confidential understands that both are expected to leave, with permanent exits not being ruled out as both players draw significant interest in the Championship, with nothing left for either to gain in academy football.
United have cashed in on several young players this summer as Radek Vitek, Tyler Fredricson and Ethan Williams left the club permanently, with buy-back clauses and matching rights included as part of their exit packages.
Jaydan Kamason celebrates scoring the third goal in United Under 21s’ 5-0 win over Ipswich
Harry Amass, who started at left-back on Monday against Ipswich, is also likely to leave United in the next week
New cyber threat warning
News that Premier League teams face a fine of up to £100,000 if they fail to follow new cybersecurity rules coming into effect this season revived memories of the attack on United in November 2020, which paralysed the club’s computer network.
Staff were forced to communicate by WhatsApp for several weeks after the ransomware attack crippled United’s email accounts and other systems, forcing the club to call in the National Cyber Security Centre for help.
It was never revealed how much the hackers demanded as a ransom – or if United paid up – but the NCSC said at the time that the biggest single loss to a sports organisation from cyber-crime was £4million. United are believed to have upgraded their cybersecurity since then in an attempt to prevent another breach. The new rules will be implemented in three phases through April 2029.
Jamie Akhtar, CEO and co-founder of CyberSmart, said: ‘This is an important shift for the Premier League. Cyber security is moving from being viewed primarily as an IT responsibility to becoming an enforceable element of club governance.
‘Football clubs hold significant volumes of sensitive supporter, employee and player data, while also relying on systems for ticketing, payments, stadium access and matchday operations.’
Wes & Pally at Salford
Given that United host Ipswich Town on Sunday, those at a loose end on Saturday need look no further than Salford Lads & Girls Club.
United are teaming up with the iconic club to host an open day where former players Wes Brown and Gary Pallister will be in attendance. The pair are hosting a Q&A at the event which will give fans the chance to buy limited edition adidas third shirts, which have been designed to celebrate the Salford club’s centenary year.
A football fun day, which starts at midday, for those after a football fix on Saturday.
